Look away - Big Country

I bought a lot of 7" singles last year, but quite frankly I'd forgotten that 'Look away' by Big Country was one of them. And it's not even that long ago!

This limited edition double single adds a second disc with two instrumental tracks, displaying the Celtic influences that Big Country have always flaunted. The tracks come from the soundtrack of the movie 'Restless natives', which was released one year before this single, in 1985.

My collection: 7" single no. 4493
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Look away' / 'Restless natives' // 'Margos theme' / 'Highland scenery'

Girls and boys - Prince and the Revolution

'Girls & boys' was recorded by Prince on his 1986 album 'Parade'. This limited edition double single was released in the UK in the summer of that year. I remember seeing the double single in the shops for ridiculous prices at the time, so I'm glad I waited for almost 25 years to get it this cheap.

The single was not released in America, but in the UK, 'Girls & boys' peaked at number 11. In the Dutch Top 40, the single peaked at number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 4492
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Girls & boys' / 'Under the cherry moon' // 'She's always in my hair' / '17 days (the sun will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose)'

I'm free - Roger Daltrey

The Who's classic rock opera 'Tommy' has been recorded in various incarnations. Originally, of course, there was the album, released by the band in 1969. Then, a movie, musical and various concert incarnations saw the light of day.

This single is a track from 'Tommy', as performed by Roger Daltrey with the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir. It was taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Tommy'. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1973.

My collection: 7" single no. 4491
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I'm free' / 'Overture'

Heaven and hell (3rd movement) - Vangelis

Vangelis released his fifth solo album 'Heaven and hell' in 1975. The album became his first commercial success, as it landed in the UK albums chart in 1976, peaking at number 31. It featured his first collaboration with Jon Anderson, with whom he would collaborate more in the early Eighties as Jon & Vangelis.

The track 'Movement 3' came to prominence when it was used in the BBC TV series 'The cosmos' in 1981. The track was released on BBC records and reached the UK singles chart, peaking at number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 4490
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven & hell (3rd movement)' / 'Alpha'

I want to be straight - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Ian Dury and the Blockheads released their last album for Stiff Records in 1980, entitled 'Laughter'. At the time, Dury was an alcoholic, and also addicted to Mogadon, a brand of sedative. Coupled with his bad reaction to celebrity, and his bouts of depression, these addictions caused him to be confrontational, argumentative, and controlling. This caused the recording sessions for that album to be quite difficult.

Ahead of the album, however, the single 'I want to be straight' was released. This was the first recording by Ian Dury with the new line-up of the Blockheads, as Chas Jankel had left the band after a particularly stressful tour. This single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1980.

My collection: 7" single no. 4489
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to be straight' / 'That's not all'

Blue Jean - David Bowie

David Bowie may have been inspired by Michael Jackson's epic music video for 'Thriller' when he decided to make 'Jazzin' for Blue Jean', a 21 minute music video directed by Julien Temple. For some reason, Jackson's video became legendary and Bowie's video has been largely forgotten.

Bowie later commented on the song: ''Blue Jean' is a piece of sexist rock 'n roll (laughs). It's about picking up birds. It's not very cerebral, that piece'. The single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4487
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Blue Jean' / 'Dancing with the big boys'

Call me - Blondie

'Call me' was the main theme of the movie 'American gigolo'. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called 'Man machine'. Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody. The completed song was then recorded by the band, with Moroder producing.

When the single was released in early 1980, it reached number 1 in the USA, Canada and the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Call me' peaked at number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 4486
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Call me' / 'Call me (instrumental)'

Words - Bee Gees

These days, most people think that the Bee Gees have always been the trio Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. But when you look at the sleeve of this 1968 single, 'Words', you can see that the band consisted of five members. The additional two members are Vince Melouney and Colin Peterson. They left the Bee Gees in 1968 and 1970 respectively.

'Words' was written by the three brothers Gibb for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track as he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. It's good that they did: it gave them a number 1 hit in Germany and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4485
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Sinking ships'

Jung wie du - Nena

'Jung wie du' ('Young like you') was released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from Nena's 1984 album 'Feuer und Flamme' ('Fire and flames').

The single reached number 47 in the German singles chart, but failed to chart elsewhere in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4484
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Jung wie du' / 'Das alte Lied'

It's a miracle - Culture Club

'It's a Miracle' was released as the fifth and final single from Culture Club's 1983 album 'Colour by numbers'. The song was first called 'It's America', relating to Culture Club's first trip to the United States. It was later changed.

It became the group's sixth top 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 4483
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'It's a miracle' / 'Love twist (live)'

My forbidden lover - Chic

'My forbidden lover' is another one of those catchy tunes only Chic could make during the late Seventies. It was the second single from the band's third album 'Risque'.

The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4482
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'My forbidden lover' / 'What about me'

She's not there - Santana

Rod Argent wrote 'She's not there' and was recorded by his band the Zombies in 1964. Although this version became a hit in several countries, it was not as memorable as the 1978 cover version by Santana.

His version reached number 27 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4481
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'She's not there' / 'Zulu'

Lass mich dein Pirat sein - Nena

I've been searching for this single for such a long time, that I totally forgot I was searching for it. I saw it for the first time in over 10 years, and for a reasonable price too. For a moment, I was even wondering whether I had it or not...

'Lass ich dein Pirat sein' is a beautiful ballad taken from Nena's 1984 album '?'. It was released as the third and last single from the album and became the least successful one, peaking at number 53 in the German singles chart only. It was played very often on Dutch radio. I recorded the track from the radio but was never able to buy the single at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 4480
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein' / 'Keine Antwort'

Josephine Baker - Boney M

Boney M officially disbanded after the commercially unsuccessful and ininspired album 'Eye dance' (1985). From that point, several different versions of the group were formed. The classic line-up reformed in 1988 for the album 'Greatest hits of all times - remix 88', but this reunion didn't last very long: within the year Liz Mitchell left the group, to be replaced by Madeleine Davis.

This line-up recorded the single 'Josephine Baker', without the band's original producer Frank Farian's knowledge or approval. He threatened the group with legal action, and so the single was quickly withdrawn. Bobby Farrell re-recorded the song for this 1991 single credited to Boney M. feat. Bobby Farrell, since he won the rights to use the name Boney M. in Holland where he lives. The title was changed simply to 'Josephine Baker'. The single was a charity single in support of The Josephine Baker Children's Foundation, but did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4479
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Josephine Baker' / 'Shame and scandal'

Walking on the moon - The Police

According to Sting, 'Walking on the moon' is about the feeling of being in love. He wrote the song when he: 'was drunk in a hotel room in Munich, slumped on the bed with the whirling pit when this riff came into my head. I got up and starting walking round the room singing: 'Walking round the room, walking round the room'. That was all. In the cool light of morning I remembered what had happened and I wrote the riff down. But 'Walking round the room' was a stupid title so I thought of something even more stupid which was 'Walking on the moon'.'

Released in November 1979, 'Walking on the moon' was a number 1 hit in the UK singles chart, while it also peaked at number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 4478
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Walking on the moon' / 'Visions of the night'

Mondsong - Nena

In 1986, Nena released their sixth album 'Eisbrecher' ('Ice breaker'). It was to be their last album as a band; frontwoman Nena Kerner continued as a solo artist, still using the name Nena. The single 'Mondsong' was written by her and recorded with the band.

Although one more single was released from the album, 'Mondsong' ('Moon song') was the last hit single for Nena the band, peaking at number 37 in the German singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4477
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Mondsong' / 'Schön wär es doch'

If you love somebody set them free - Sting

Although the Police never formally broke up, 1985 was the year in which all three members started concentrating on solo projects. The most successful of the three was Sting, who launched his solo career in the summer of 1985 with this single, 'If you love somebody set them free'. It was the first single from his first solo album, 'The dream of the blue turtles', which he recorded with a band of accomplished jazz musicians.

The single reached number 26 in the UK singles chart, number 35 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I never liked this song much at the time of its release, but now, a quarter of a century later, I have grown to like it. I found a pristine UK pressing of the single, which is always a pleasure too.

My collection: 7" single no. 4476
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'If you love somebody set them free' / 'Another day'

Blok aan mijn been - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Blok aan mijn been' was the third and final single taken from the self-titled debut album by the Frank Boeijen Groep, the Dutch band that was founded by Frank Boeijen at the end of the Seventies. Like its predecessor 'Vrijdagavond', this single failed to chart.

Just like that single, I had to search for this one for a long time too. I finally found a copy on a festival market for a price that was pretty steep. But after searching for a decade, you're bound to make a compromise. I didn't see the single that much afterwards anyway...

My collection: 7" single no. 2145
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, August 21, 1994
Cost: 12,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blok aan mijn been' / 'Ik haat jou'

Straighter line - Cock Robin

Just three weeks ago, in my entry about the single 'Manzanar', I wrote that I hadn't been able to find a copy of the third and last single from Cock Robin's third album 'First love last rites', 'Straighter line', and indeed, it has been a hell of a search. But fortunately the single popped up on a mailorder website 12 days ago, and so now I do have it.

'Straighter line' did not chart anywhere, so you'd expect to see this single literally everywhere. But I guess most copies have been destroyed or something. At least I have a copy now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4475
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,4 euro
Tracks: 'Straighter line' / 'We've changed'

Up the hill backwards - David Bowie

David Bowie recorded 'Up the hill backwards' as a track on his 1980 album 'Scary monsters (and super creeps)'. The lyric is often seen as a commentary on the public coverage of his divorce from Angela Bowie, one of several tracks on the album that muse over the double-edged sword of celebrity. It has also been interpreted as facing up to crises in general.

The track was released as the fourth and final single from the album in March 1981. The single was not a big success, reaching number 32 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 4474
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Up the hill backwards' / 'Crystal Japan'